29 March 2011

"Here have some more Tirimisu Ruby," Javier's father nudged a plate full in front of her, she smiled politely. How could she resist such hospitality and such great food, "You are living together now, I hear?" Javier's father Antonio said with quiet enthusiasm.

"Kat! You and your big mouth," Javier shook his head in disgust.

"What? Mum and Dad are always asking about you, it's just right to clue them in some time," Kat shrugged.

"But about stuff like this, this is a case... I've moved in with her for her personal protection," Javier whispered.

"Yeah, but mum and dad don't know that, do they?" Kat whispered back.

"When are you ever going to learn about police business," Javier said, "Everything should stay private."

"Oh come on, I'm a cop, dad's a cop... you're kinda a cop... it's in the family... just chill out!" Kat giggled as she rolled her eyes at Javier and dug into her mother's Tirimisu.

"I don't want them thinking that as I'm with Ruby, that we're serious... this is just a job," Javier said a bit too sternly.

"A bit too late, don't you think... they're planning what your babies are going to look like," Kat said, her eyes on the threesome at the dining table.

Javier turned, saw his parents in deep conversation with Ruby and he got up and walked over.

"Javy, Ruby has just invited us to the unveiling of her jewellery collection... I must decide what to wear, this is so exciting," his mother Rosa gushed at the news.

Javier looked at his son and nodded, the simple nod sent waves of approval his direction. Was he missing out on something here? The last couple of weeks, he'd covered a lot of ground, all he needed was for that person to make their move and he would be there. He began to understand Ruby on a more profound level, she was interesting to say the least, she was also really smart, had a business sense about her and what he noticed was, she was really giving. He had overheard her on the phone, just the other day speaking to her financial advisor and requesting that half of her profits for her jewellery collection to go to Charity and something inside of him, was completely won over. They had shared a lot of kisses and cuddles but both of them were aware that going beyond that line was a no no, but he couldn't help the surge of lust that shot in his veins and travelled south, every time he saw her, she was one attractive woman. He was brought back to the present, Ruby was smiling at him and conversing with his parents.

"I think my son is a dreamer more now that he has you," he heard his father saying, "Just look at him, his head is in the clouds again."

"Ah," Rosa stood up, "I will go and fetch the family album, you see what your kids will look like soon," and she disappeared.

Javier stood up, "Mama, there is no need to do that... I'm sure Ruby would rather see something else like... umm..."

"The baby photos, yes," Rosa said from down the hall.

Javier shook his head in disgust as Ruby and his father laughed at his expense.

A couple of hours later, they left the Romano household and decided to go for a walk in the neighbourhood. Ruby was dressed up in a purple tea dress, with her denim jacket and red ballet pumps. She dressed so modestly for an heiress. She looked at Javier beside her, he was dressed up in his staple denim washed jeans and a black sweater, his hair was unkempt and he wore a smile as they walked down the street.

"I love your family Javier, you're really lucky to have them," she smiled at him and looked straight ahead of her, "And I must say, you really were a cute kid growing up..."

"And I'm not a cute now?" Javier feigned disgust in a joking manner.

"Y'know what I mean Javier..." she didn't get to finish her sentence as he drew her in a kiss, they stood like a lovestruck couple in the street and it was Javier who pulled away first.

"I can't deny it anymore Ruby," as he stroked the hair from her face, "I really want to make love to you,"

Ruby touched his hand and looked at him longingly, "Let's go home then."

18 March 2011

Javier had caught her before she hit the floor, swung her into his arms and stomped off, leaving the clearly worried group of two hundred standing in the ballroom agasp. He didn't have to go far, as he kicked the door open a few doors down and realised it was her father's home office, complete with state of the art technology. He laid her down on the green couch which obviously fit into her father's office decor, plus mahoghany and green curtains with a green lampshade, too old and too furnished. He touched her skin, she was warm but the pale palor of her skin said otherwise, she wasn't prepared for that surprise and god dammit, what was her father thinking.

Speaking of her father, he came rushing in with a gentleman, roughly the same age and grace as him. Javier thought he saw something pass in his eyes, but it was gone in a blink as he came forward,

"I'm a doctor, let me though," nearly knocking Javier out of the way. He lifted her lids and checked for any vital signs. Javier noticed, he was too thorough, he assessed her arms and legs and pronounced, "She'll be okay, she'll come round." And at that moment, she opened her eyes and her gaze swept over the man who had had his hands on her only moments ago.

"I want to go home," she said, more to Javier then anyone else.

"But Ruby, all these people are here for you... you can't just up and leave," her father pleaded.

"Their your friends, not mine... I told you and always tell you, I hate your parties, so would you think I'd actually want this vestige of people welcoming me back to the living?" Ruby scolded.

"Now, that's a bit mean Ruby," the man beside her father said.

"This isn't any of your business Chris, so get your nose and mouth out of my business... maybe you could tell them that I'm not up to socialising tonight," Ruby said sarcastically, getting to her feet and looking at her father, "This was a stupid stunt dad and I can't believe this... you don't know me at all."

"Ruby, can't you see this was all for you... just to show you that I love you and that this was all for..."

"Stop it dad, the least you could have done was to invite me to dinner, just the two of us... ever thought about that?" Ruby said walking away, as Javier followed.

"Ruby you shouldn't speak to your father..." Christopher said.

Ruby turned around, eyes like daggers as she threw her gaze towards Christopher, "Letitia is a fine example of extravagance, no amount of money, luxuries or expensive diamond bracelets were going to win Letitia over, she already had all those luxuries before she knew you... no amount of money could measure to love, so why the hell do you think she could succumb to you eventually? Oh she was right in telling me, all she wanted was someone to hold her..." Ruby shook her head, "Just forgot about that, I apologise, I shouldn't have brought that up. Good night dad."

She walked into the hall and collided with Felix. He hugged her straight away in a bear hug.

"I've missed you so much Ruby, how are you?" Letting her go and looking at her.

"I'm fine Felix, how are you?" Ruby said taking a few steps back and bumping into something solid behind her, she turned around to see Javier standing there with a not so happy expression.

Felix kept his eyes trained on Ruby, "Will you be staying for the party?"

"Hey hey, who the hell are you chump... you just came on the scene five minutes ago..." Felix said, baring teeth and stepping forward.

"Let's go Ruby, we're wasting our time here," he manuvered her out of Felix's way and she walked towards the door.

Felix clamped his hand on Javier's shoulder, he spun around and saw Felix's fist before it hit him in the face, punched him straight in the ribs and the elbowed him in the face. His head flew back and Javier tripped him up and Felix landed on his bum. Javier bent down and whispered to him, "Do that again and I'll rip out your spinal cord and a word of warning, keep away from Ruby." When Javier stood up and spun around, he noticed a very shocked Ruby standing by the door, he ushered her out to the car and they disappeared down the driveway.

***

Christopher left the party early, he could hear the words she had spoken with her acidic tongue towards him, after he had tried to help her. And after all the effort her father had put in to get people together last minute for her, well she was an ungrateful little bitch, indeed. He was in badly need of sanctuary and a good stiff drink.

***

"Why did you have to hurt Felix? He's just doing his job," Ruby said, when they arrived back at the house. She took off her shoes and headed straight for the kitchen.

"I don't like him, he has a hidden agenda," Javier closed the door and bolted it and followed her through.

She paused with her hands on her hips, "You're jealous, aren't you?"

"I'm not jealous, I'm simply trying to protect you..." Javier said.

"Really? Because all he did was hug me..."

"He could have done something much more serious then that," Javier replied.

Ruby looked at him, "What have you found out about him?"

"We've been monitoring him Ruby, just as a precaution..." Javier responded.

"But there must be something that has given him away... oh yes, his fondness for me," she laughed as she poked him, "Don't look so serious."

"I'm serious when it comes to you Ruby," and he pulled her towards him and kissed her until her knees went weak.

17 March 2011

Javier was used to long hours on the job, he enjoyed his job, took pride in it, that he didn't mind the long hours. He liked getting things things done and getting it done the right way, his way. He liked being resourceful and he liked chasing the bad guys till the bad guys were caught, arrested and thrown into prison. What he didn't like, was getting caught up in the woman he was protecting and running the case for. It was mixing business with pleasure and that was a certified no - no. He had rules and damn, he had to stick to them but he couldn't get over how amazing that kiss was and something unknown to him stirred something deep inside him.

He carried on tapping away at the keyboard, accessing police data. Since meeting Felix a few hours ago, he had a hunch and his hunches always came out right. Call him cocky or merely confident, but he prized himself on being right. He'd been working hard, accessing information on Felix Stowe from his whereabouts in the time frame that Ruby had been missing, what he did when he wasn't at work, to where he shopped et al. He was building a file against him, just in case. His over eagerness to see Ruby, just didn't sit well with him. Thinking of Ruby, he hadn't seen her in a while, after she received the flowers and the gift, she'd disappeared into her bedroom and he hadn't seen her since. He stood up from the table, striding over to her bedroom when the mobile phone beside his laptop started ringing. He strode back and immediately saw 'Ryker's name blink on the caller ID.

"I have one suspect on my list that may fit the profile of our abductor," Ryker began.

"Let me guess, Felix Stowe?" Javier replied.

"Actually no, strange guy though," Ryker commented, "Came across him when I was scoping out the area."

"So, who's the guy then?" Javier whispered, not wanting to be overheard.

"Christopher Lewis, celebrity and surgeon of the stars," Ryker whipped.

"And the relationship he has with?" Javier eyed Ruby's door.

"Lewis has known and is Don Lee Carlton's best friend, he was present at the party, schmoozing with said folk and then he disappeared for a couple of hours, later returned, probably to keep up appearances."

"What else did you find out about him?"

"He was married to an heiress half his age Letitia Hampton, my sources tell me he was besotted with her, showered her with expensive gifts and then she was caught sleeping with the pool man, they'd been married two years," Ryker said.

"So, where is she now?" Javier said.

"Mental institution... checked that out as well. She's unrecognisable, it's as if the dogs got to her, tried talking to her but she's mute. I'm telling you Javier, I don't know what the hell happened to her, she's mutilated, her brain's frazzled. Drew out her report, sending it over to you... seems her ex-husband put her there, he's signed her off to stay there."

"And what about her family?" Javier asked, his eyes trained on the bedroom door.

"They don't want to know about her, apparently looks and appearances mean a lot to the Hampton's and this sort of coverage, this attention is not good for their real estate business... so they too signed her away to the place, it's a darn shame too, as blood's meant to be thicker then water..." Ryker sighed down the phone, "How's Ruby doing?"

"She's holding up," he swiftly changed the subject, "I want you to keep an eye on him Ryker, have you got anything on Felix Stowe?"

"Why?" Ryker asked.

"He came around a few hours ago, he seemed a bit attached to Ruby, trying to gain entrance... no, just wasn't part of his vocab, there's something definitely strange about him but keep me posted," and Javier hung up.

Both Ryker and he were at least getting somewhere, he wanted to nail the bastard before they decided to make the next move. He was heading back to his desk when he heard the bedroom door open and the patter of feet, he already knew it was Ruby.

He spun around about to mouth a question to her and noticed she was dressed up, "Where you going?"

"I have to go to my father's house, he wants me to sort out my mother's stuff," Ruby said, as she put on her Converse shoes.

"He said, if I don't come out now, he'll throw it all away. So, I'm going to take her stuff and bring it back with me," Ruby said.

"I'll come with you," Javier said, picking up his jacket.

"Why does my dad have to be such an ass? One minute he's giving me my mum's most prized possession, something that I've loved all my life," pointing at the locket she wore, "And now he's telling me, he's going to throw everything away!"

He touched her cheek and kissed her lightly on the lips, "Don't work yourself up Rubes, it's not worth it," he shut down his laptop, brought his mobile and a spy cam and put on the security alarm, they both made their way out to to the car.

Javier parked the car in the gravel driveway of the Palace and they both got out. The lights were all on in the house, like a beacon directing ships to avoid the cliffs. They walked towards it, Ruby reluctantly as she flagged a few steps behind. The butler opened the door and they stepped in, Javier looked around and realised the extravagance of the Palace and why they called it that. There were twin staircases and fresco paintings adorned on the ceiling, the floor was warmed, marble and everywhere you looked there were paintings of contemporary artists and sculptures of deceased. Though beautiful, it was very impersonal and he realised why Ruby didn't feel at home here. They were led down the hallway towards the ballroom.

"Why are we being led to the ballroom?" Ruby asked.

"This way," the butler ignored her question and opened the doors. The ballroom was dark but Ruby could hear shuffling and she stopped in the doorway.

"I can't do this Javier," she said panting.

He watched her, she was having the beginnings of a panic attack and before he could usher her away, the lights of the ballroom came on and there were at least two hundred people standing in their finest clothes shouting surprise. He took one look at Ruby as her eyes rolled back and she crumpled to the floor.